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 Caracas does not have many tourist sights, but were a visitor to write the name of one of them and show it to anyone in the street, that person would be able to read it. Venezuela is a territory free of illiteracy. This is its greatest monument to history today.
Three years ago, Venezuela had 1.5 million illiterate adults. When the government initiated the operation to eliminate illiteracy, few believed in that goal. President Chávez launched Operation Robinson I, under the coordination of Minister Aristóbulo Istúriz.
The Armed Forces launched the pilot program in two cities to demonstrate that the goal was possible. Once its success was confirmed, the operation was carried to the rest of the country by thousands of agents. Each house was visited. The slogan "Yes, I can!" mobilized all the Venezuelans.
Little by little, each city raised a flag proclaiming itself "Territory Free of Illiteracy." On October 28, the entire country declared itself "Territory Free of Illiteracy," verified by UNESCO.
I had the honor of being invited to the celebration. In a touching National Assembly solemnity, I heard a newly literate woman give an emotional speech.
In the presence of a UNESCO representative, the president of the Congress signed a Congressional Act, declaring Venezuela "Territory Free of Illiteracy."
That afternoon this Declaration was turned over to President Chávez before thousands of literacy teachers and newly literate. The people in the street proudly commemorated the event.
After this October 28, Venezuela will never be the same. It is as if a country, which one hundred years ago opened oil wells, were opening the well of a much more powerful energy - the intellectual capacity of its people.
A country is considered free of illiteracy if more than 95% of its adults are literate. In Venezuela this figure is 99%.
The program successfully graduated 1.4 million adults and young people, of all ages, the disabled, prisoners, sick people. Along with a diploma, each newly literate person receives a collection of simple reading books, literary classics, and is enrolled in Phase II of the program until completing fourth grade. The President himself cites books and recommends readings in his speeches.
Witnessing a country declare itself free of illiteracy is like being present for its Declaration of Independence. To see the enormous flag - "Territory Free of Illiteracy" - was like seeing the true flag of Venezuela only now hoisted up the flagpole.
In Brazil, that would be an even more emotional experience because only the literate can recognize our flag. Besides colors, it displays words.
Because of this, for a Brazilian, the happiness of being present for the Venezuelan success is tinged with a bit of sadness. If the Brasil Alfabetizado [Brazil Literate] Program had been maintained at its 2003 level, with a specific Office for the matter (our Operation Robinson) and guaranteed resources, Brazil would be ready to eradicate illiteracy before the end of 2006.
Inexplicably, President Lula has preferred to extinguish the Office for the Eradication of Illiteracy, to reduce Brasil Alfabetizado to a program with neither goals nor ambitions, and as of October 10, 2005, to have applied only 10.5% of the resources anticipated for this year.
In September 2003, President Lula received a UNESCO prize for Brasil Alfabetizado in the Cláudio Santoro Theater in Brasília. At that moment, I imagined him receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for eradicating illiteracy in Brazil. During the Teresa Carreño Theater solemnity in Caracas, I perceived that President Chávez has a more likely chance of this honor.
Cristovam Buarque has a Ph.D. in economics. He is a PDT senator for the Federal District and was Governor of the Federal District (1995-98) and Minister of Education (2003-04). You can visit his homepage - www.cristovam.com.br - and write to him at cristovam@senador.gov.br.
Translated from the Portuguese by Linda Jerome - LinJerome@cs.com.
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